GRUESOME - Mother of six gunned down in her yard

Horrific screams pierced the air as well as the yard of Manjula 'Jula' Stewartson's home along Seaview Avenue in Greenwich Farm, Kingston, yesterday.

A group of females, including a number of her relatives, wept openly as Stewartson, a mother of six, was killed execution-style in the presence of family members on Wednesday night as she sat in her yard.

According to police reports, about 8:10 p.m., Stewartson was sitting among a group of persons when she was approached by a lone gunman who opened fire at her. After pumping several bullets in her body, the gunman escaped on foot. The 47-year-old Stewartson was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead. A senior cop on the scene told THE WEEKEND STAR that a suspect is in custody.

As the tears streamed down her face, one of Stewartson's relatives explained how she was crippled with shock as the murderer fired mercilessly at Stewartson.

"The woman sit down right dere suh and a play a game, and mi watch di yute walk come to her and say summen to har, and she look up, and mi could see the fear in her eyes. When she look up, him pop off, and mi see di fright pon har and mi can't say nutten. Him fire two shot and mi see she shield har face with her hand," she said.

The relative said she watched in disbelief as the impact of the bullets flung Stewartson to the ground. But her attacker did not stop shooting. She said he stood over Stewartson's almost lifeless body and pumped it with several more bullets, including in the face.

"Mi just a look because mi shock and can't move. After him done shoot har, him run off and fire couple more shot to make him escape," the woman said.

Stewartson was slated to migrate to reside with her mother in the US on July 1. The relative described her as an exceptional mother who worked relentlessly to provide for her family.

"A six children she grow without any father. Mi have two children and dem nuh have no father and a she alone mi see," she said.

"Mi wah know if the person weh kill har nuh have no mada. Mi count at least nine holes in har face and she is a woman. [Stewartson] don't go road, because she is a coward. She sit down on the same chair weh dem kill har on and then go to her bed every day. Her mouth nuff yes, but she is a coward. If yuh trouble har today, by tomorrow she a call to yuh," the witness added.

Councillor for the Greenwich Town division in the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, Karl Blake, described Stewartson as a 'community' person.

"Whenever she comes to meetings, she don't speak about herself, but on behalf of the community. If there is a water problem, she would call. She is a very jovial and active person. The only thing is that her mouth is her strength, and if you and her catch up and she say something now, she is going to forget it couple moments after. If she hear one shot, she a the first to lock up and she nah come out back for the rest of the day," Blake said.